Bridgeport mayor used cocaine while in office

BRIDGEPORT (AP) - Bridgeport Mayor John M. Fabrizi admitted publicly today that he abused cocaine while in office but said he has not used drugs in 18 months.

In a tearful speech to about 200 city employees in City Council chambers, Fabrizi said he sought help for a drug addiction that he had hoped to handle privately.

"I thought that these were personal, private matters to me and my family, that I could deal with these issues with my family and myself," Fabrizi said. "I now recognize my actions affected many others, and I want to apologize to my family, my friends, and all of the people of the city of Bridgeport for my actions, my past actions."

Fabrizi, a Democrat who took office after Joseph Ganim was convicted of corruption in 2003, said he hopes to move forward and continue running Connecticut's largest city.

"I will do everything, and I mean everything I can, to redeem the respect and the support that you the employees of the city of Bridgeport, and of you my friends, and of you the great people of the city of Bridgeport," Fabrizi said.

Many employees cheered while Fabrizi spoke, though there were some boos. He also said he stopped drinking alcohol four months ago.

"I have put this personal struggle behind me and it has never, ever affected my job performance," Fabrizi said. "The tremendous progress Bridgeport has made over the past three years is a testament to that. Folks, my record speaks for itself."

Fabrizi first admitted he had used cocaine to the editorial board of the Connecticut Post, which reported the admission in Tuesday's editions.

"In a perfect world, I would have had an opportunity to address you yesterday, before today's news hit the paper," he said. "I am your mayor, and I believe you should have heard this first from me. I'm sorry that the timing worked out this way."

Fabrizi would not tell the Post how he obtained cocaine, but said he occasionally spent $20 or $40 to purchase it. The mayor offered to take periodic drug tests if anyone doubts he has stopped using cocaine.

Fabrizi said last week he had made "poor choices in the past" but declined to be more specific after an FBI report surfaced in which an alleged drug dealer claimed an associate had a videotape of the mayor using cocaine.

At least 13 phone calls were placed from Fabrizi's city-issued cell phone to the associate, Shawn Fardy, between October and December 2004.

U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor said Friday that Fabrizi was not a target of the drug investigation. He said FBI reports, which summarize statements made by witnesses but are not always corroborated, are typically filed under seal. He apologized to Fabrizi after the document was released.

Bridgeport, Connecticut's largest city, has struggled with violent drug dealers who gave the city a reputation as the murder capital of the state in the 1990s before the homicide rate plummeted.

"I do believe that he's got to resign," said Rick Torres, a Republican who ran against Fabrizi in 2003. "How do we explain to children drug use is dangerous and can ruin your life if the top guy is a drug user?"

But some residents were more forgiving.

"I think he can continue on in his job as mayor as long as he's sought treatment," said Matthew Krol, a Bridgeport resident who works in a record store. "I think he should be given a second chance."